It’s been said that change can “do you good,” but we humans are incredibly resistant to it. Even changes we eagerly anticipate, like retirement or sending kids to college, may prompt distress, causing us to question our purpose and our value. Major shifts in life circumstances can be especially challenging for those dealing with mental health issues; however, there is abundant support here in the Upstate.
Dr. Jaya Merugu, psychiatrist and attending physician at Travelers Rest-based Havenwood Behavioral Health at Springbrook, notes that any change is difficult to process, as it brings new ways of doing things, new roles, or changes in roles.
“There may be a sense of uncertainty that can cause ripple effects and lead to a sense of loss of control,” Merugu says.
In addition to adult behavioral health and substance abuse disorder services, Havenwood offers geriatric behavioral health services. Resilience doesn’t necessarily decline with age, according to Merugu, who is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both adult and geriatric psychiatry, but resistance to change or to care can impact it. For that reason, she emphasizes open communication with patients about transitions and expectations.
Experts agree that social support can boost the ability to adapt. Support is exactly what people find at “the clubhouse,” the local hub for Gateway, a community-based program serving Greenville since 1984. As part of Clubhouse International, it is modeled after Fountain House, which started as informal gatherings of former patients from a New York psychiatric hospital in 1948. In contrast to clinical care, Gateway focuses on “relationships and skill building as critical vehicles for rehabilitation.”
Participants must be referred by health care providers; however, membership and attendance are optional, and staff members can walk interested parties through the referral process. Randy Redlinger has been involved with Gateway since 1996, serving in roles such as housing coordinator and employment coordinator before accepting the executive director’s position in 2017. Throughout his career, he has consistently seen members benefit from daily routines.
Redlinger says coffee is always brewing in the mornings when members arrive. The clubhouse operates on the principle of a “work-ordered day,” but the work varies according to individual interests. With two commercial kitchens, the staff serves meals, and members work alongside them. Others do anything from data entry to helping with grant requests.
“It’s natural to ask, ‘What’s my role, my routine?’ What we do becomes part of our identity,” Redlinger said. “Here, we have meaningful work for everyone.”
Gateway’s website calls the program an “antidote to isolation.” Naturally, there was overwhelming concern when COVID hit, and the clubhouse closed for the first time in over 30 years. Employees established a Facebook group and broadcast live videos from the clubhouse. Members took the initiative to call one another regularly and adjusted to virtual medical appointments and more.
Prioritizing mental and emotional health is key to managing depression and anxiety over loss of a loved one, “empty nest syndrome,” or other alterations in life circumstances. Likewise, the effects of change cannot be underestimated in conjunction with acute or chronic mental health conditions. Change is inevitable, but through healthy routines and clinical and social support, coping skills can be strengthened at any age.
Reach out
Gateway House Inc., Greenville, 864.242.9193, gateway-sc.org
Havenwood Behavioral Health, Travelers Rest, 864.660.6217, havenwoodbehavioral.com
Five quick tips to help adapt to change
- Be curious. Explore before you judge or decide.
- Don’t get too attached to a single plan.
- Create support systems. Don’t do it alone.
- Understand your reactions to change.
- Immerse yourself in new environments and situations.
Source: Center for Creative Leadership
